As the second most common type of dementia, vascular dementia results in a significant decline in an individual's thinking ability. This condition can cause problems with balance, speech, or memory. Similar to many other forms of dementia, the changes can begin mildly and then progressively worsen or sometimes the onset of symptoms happen suddenly.
Vascular dementia can develop following a stroke that blocks arteries in the brain, but strokes do not always cause vascular dementia. The manner in which the stroke affects your reasoning and thinking depends on the location and severity of the episode. In addition to stroke, vascular dementia can be caused by conditions that reduce circulation and damage blood vessels — depriving the brain of vital nutrients and oxygen.
Learn more about the symptoms, causes and risk factors of Vascular Dementia here.